Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (2024)

  • Post author:Melissa Haines
  • Post published:November 24, 2016
  • Post comments:6 Comments

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This Cranberry Salad Recipe is a sure hit with everyone. It’s the perfect side for the holidays. With bits of fresh cranberry, oranges, apples, and pineapple, it has the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Come on in and I’ll share my Grandmother’s Recipe for an Old Fashioned Cranberry Salad…

Cranberry Salad Recipe

This is an old-fashioned recipe, from my grandmother. Boy does this take me back to her 1950s-style kitchen, and the old hand grinder hanging over the kitchen sink! I loved grinding the apples and other ingredients for this delicious holiday side as a kid. Now, even after all of these years, I still don’t think any other cranberry salad holds a candle to this delicious flavor. Sometimes the old-fashioned recipes are truly the best!

If you are looking for holiday sides like this one then you might like my recipe for Old Fashioned Cranberry Cake with Butter Frosting, No Bake Cherry Fluff Salad, or Homemade Cornbread Stuffing with Cranberries

Table of contents

  • Cranberry Salad Recipe
  • Here is a quick video showing you how I make this Cranberry Salad…

It’s not only yummy, but it’s also so festive looking. I love the bits of orange peel and the chunks of cranberry.

Here is a quick video showing you how I make this Cranberry Salad…

Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (3)

Grandma’s Famous Cranberry Salad

Grandma’s cranberry salad is the perfect side for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: 10 -12 servings

Calories: 190cal

Author: Melissa

Cost: $10

Ingredients

  • 1 12 oz. fresh cranberries
  • 2 large Apples Cored – (quartered or cut into large pieces) Get a sweet variety, like Empire, or Gala
  • 2 Seedless Oranges quartered – Don’t peel these, either.
  • 1 12 oz. stemless Maraschino Cherries – Drain the juice
  • 1 6 oz. Raspberry Jello
  • 2 Cups Heated Water
  • 2 Cups sugar
  • 1 15 oz. Crushed Pineapple Drain the juice

Instructions

  • Using a food processor or blender – grind the cranberries, apples, oranges, and cherries

  • *Just so the blender or food processor doesn’t get bogged down – You may want to grind a small amount at a time.

  • The mixture should be a little course for texture. Don’t grind it too fine

  • In the meantime, heat the water in a saucepan

  • Add the jello and sugar to the heated water

  • In a large bowl, combine the ground mixture, and the liquid

  • Add the drained crushed pineapple, and stir

  • Chill in the refrigerator for at least a couple of hours, or even 1 day in advance

  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • The older recipes paid no attention to the number of calories in recipes. This recipe has 2 whopping cups of sugar! The sweetness is a big hit with my kids, and us. I like the balance of tart and sweet. But, if you would like the tartness of the cranberry to show through a little more, just cut back on the sugar. I’d start with 1 cup and add more if it needs it. If, after tasting it, you think you’d like to add more sugar to the salad, just dissolve more sugar in a small amount of hot water, and fold in before refrigerating. 🙂

nutrition information is only an estimate

Nutrition

Calories: 190cal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 96mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 83IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.1mg

[box] Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (4)Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (5)Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (6)Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (7)[/box]

~Melissa KidFriendlyThingsToDo.Com

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This Post Has 6 Comments

  1. Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (9)

    Susan Urben October 29, 2020Reply

    Thanks Melissa for this recipe. I omitted the sugar altogether and used the pineapple juice as part of the water, it was about 3/4s of a cup, so 1 1/4 cup water and 3/4s juice from the can . I topped with vanilla yogurt and pecans.

    1. Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (10)

      Melissa October 29, 2020Reply

      That sounds delicious, Susan. Thank you for telling us how you modified the recipe without sugar. I’m sure several people will find that information very helpful. 🙂

  2. Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (11)

    Vickie November 19, 2021Reply

    Would be nice to include the number of servings

  3. Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (12)

    Misty November 29, 2022Reply

    Love this recipe, its so good! I was wondering if you can freeze the leftovers?

    1. Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (13)

      Melissa November 29, 2022Reply

      Thank you! You know, I’ve never tried to freeze this recipe before, but that’s a great question. Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like you can freeze this salad successfully because the Jell-O won’t freeze all the way and some of the fruit will lose their texture. You can, however, store it in the fridge for up to 10 days.

    2. Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (14)

      Melissa November 30, 2022Reply

      Strike my last reply. I’ve been corrected. My mom says she freezes it every year and it holds well in the freezer. That would be a great time saver for Christmas!

Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my cranberry salad runny? ›

Another possibility is that the cranberries need to boil for longer, releasing their pectin and ensuring a jelly consistency. Still stumped? Try reducing the sauce down even further so more of the liquid cooks off and the mixture thickens.

What is the closest berry to cranberries? ›

Another Good Substitute: Lingonberries

They are more like a cranberry cousin with the same genus, Vaccinium while redcurrants come from the Ribes family. Because they have a similar flavour to cranberries, they are perfect to substitute in their place in something like cranberry sauce or even a cranberry jam recipe.

Can you use craisins instead of cranberries? ›

Yes, Craisins® Sweetened Dried Cranberries work well in baked goods; however, there is a 1/4 cup (60 mL) difference in measurement. If a recipe calls for one cup of fresh cranberries you should use 3/4 cup (175 mL) of Craisins®.

Can I substitute frozen cranberries for fresh? ›

Yes! Fresh cranberries freeze for up to a year and can often be substituted in recipes that call for fresh cranberries. When cooking with frozen cranberries, do not thaw before using.

How do I stop my salad from being watery? ›

Before you pack your salad away, fluff up your salad and pull any of these out. Store your clean, dry salad in an airtight plastic container lined with paper towel. The paper towel will absorb any excess water, and the airtight container will keep the salad from wilting.

What thickens cranberry sauce? ›

Sugar helps the thickening process, and while it's nice to try to keep your cranberry sauce from being too sugary sweet, you will need at least some sugar to make it work well (about 1/2 cup sugar per 12-ounce bag of cranberries).

What 2 states grow the most cranberries? ›

Most cranberries come from Wisconsin and Massachusetts

The United States is the world's leading cranberry producer, followed by Canada and Chile.

How many cranberries should I eat a day? ›

HOW MUCH CRANBERRIES TO EAT DAILY? Studies confirming the health-promoting properties of cranberries have typically used doses of 100-300 g of fresh cranberries, equivalent to 7-10 g of dried cranberries, and 100-150 ml of 100% cranberry juice.

Are craisins dried cranberries? ›

Dried cranberries may be marketed as craisins due to the similarity in appearance with raisins, although the word "Craisin" is a registered trademark of Ocean Spray. Craisins were introduced as part of a packaged cereal produced by Ralston Purina in 1989.

Why are there no cranberries in the stores? ›

Cranberry sauce

Weather again hurt cranberry harvests across the country in 2023, with drought, excess snow, freezes, and hailstorms harming crops in many regions.

Are raisins better for you than Craisins? ›

Compared to dried cranberries, raisins contain a bit more iron, a mineral that helps your red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body.

Why are Craisins so expensive? ›

Low carry-over stocks and the prospect of a relatively small crop have caused spot market prices for dried cranberries to increase significantly in recent months. There is no relief in sight any time soon.

Can I use year old frozen cranberries? ›

Pack cranberries into containers, leaving ½-inch headspace for expansion, or freeze them on a tray and then pack into containers or freezer bags as soon as berries are frozen. Frozen berries are best if used within one year.

Do frozen cranberries get mushy when thawed? ›

If cranberries are frozen then removed from the freezer then thawed, they will have a soft texture and are usable for cooking and baking. Adding frozen cranberries to recipes is often recommended.

What to use in place of cranberries? ›

There's not a direct substitute for fresh cranberries, but you could make a relish or chutney using a combination of fresh cherries and pomegranates, as well as a small amount of dried cranberries or dried figs. The flavor will be more sweet than tart, but it serves the same purpose.

Why is my cranberry sauce watery? ›

The longer you heat the sauce, the more water is going to evaporate out of it, and the thicker it's going to be, according to Eating Well. Cooking it also releases pectin, which NPR explains is used for gelling. There's another ingredient that can help thicken up your sauce, and that's to add sugar.

How do you keep fruit salad from getting watery? ›

The acidity in the lemon and the orange will keep the fruit from turning brown and keep it crisp and refreshing. This will also concentrate the juice and give it a thicker, syrupy consistency, instead of a thin, watery consistency.

Will my cranberry sauce thicken in the fridge? ›

Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools. To store, let cool completely, then transfer to a resealable container and refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.

What happens if you overcook cranberries? ›

Dear Evelyn: I had the same problem when I first started making my own cranberry sauce. I found out that you should cook them just until they pop. Further cooking will make them bitter, and once that happens, you need to start again.

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